Workers dredging along the beach discovered the remains.Police said the young woman was white, possibly between 15 and 22 years old, and had a single stab wound to the chest.Investigators said the body had three piercings for jewelry, including two on her chest and one in her navel.

The navel piercing was a point of interest for detectives, Hancock County Sheriff Ricky Adam said.

"There's one distinct belly piercing with a long chain, long triangle-shaped with rhinestones on the bottom of it," he said. "So if anybody might recognize it, that would help."

Adam said Coroner Jim Faulk should have the autopsy results by the end of the day. Faulk said an autopsy won't help with identification, but it could give information about the death.

Authorities said they have been looking at missing person reports in the region to see if any of the women match the description of the torso, including the case of Jaren Lockhart who was reported missing on Tuesday night. She was last seen in the 2400 block of Tulane Avenue when she left to go to work in the 300 block of Bourbon Street. Investigators said they have ruled out Mickey Shunick of Lafayette, who has been missing since May. However, no link has been made to either case.

Anyone with information that might help investigators is asked to call the Hancock County Sheriff's Office at 228-255-9191.

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